GEORGE TOWN: Throngs of devotees from various temples here have gathered to send off the Nine Emperor Gods at end of the festival at the Tow Boe Keong Kew Ong Tai Tay Temple here.

The devotees – mostly clad in white – started arriving as early as 6pm before the sending-off ceremony of the Nine Emperor Gods at the Ong Jetty at the Weld Quay at 10pm on Monday (Oct 23).

Stalls were set up to offer vegetarian meals, as devotees would observe a vegetarian diet throughout the nine-day festival which started on Oct 15, the first day of the ninth lunar month.

At the Tow Moo Keong Temple in Lebuh Noordin, apart from the usual rituals, 18 devotees in trances also pierced themselves with skewers to ward off evil spirits and seek blessings.

The festival is observed by Taoists and is dedicated to the nine sons of Tou Mu, the Goddess of the North Star, who is believed to control the Books of Life and Death.

Devotees believe the gods came through the waterway and processions are usually held from temples to the river or seashore as a symbolic gesture.

Temples in Penang take turns to send off their "Emperor Boat" at sea to mark an end to the festival.